cleverly hidden in the polished gray marble
cladding of the rotunda interior. The building is
now fully sprinklered and all necessary modern
interventions – such as air-conditioning ducts,
conduit, and wiring – carefully concealed. Windows, millwork, furnishings, and flooring were
replicated, and detailing of the judges benches
in the two other counties was incorporated into
the design of the new benches, an alteration
necessitated by the courthouse’s change from
civil to appellate courtroom use.
The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation
Program was established by the Texas Legislature in 1999 through efforts by then-Governor
George W. Bush in response to growing public
concern about the deteriorated condition of
many historic county courthouses across the
state and publicity garnered by their collective
listing on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Eleven Most Endangered List during the
previous year. To date, the courthouse program
has funded projects, including 55 full restorations, in 82 counties.
A n n a

M o d

March Opening for Calatrava Bridge
Still another few months away from
completion, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
already stands out from the other iconic profiles
that make up the skyline of Dallas.
Designed by Spanish architect and engineer
Santiago Calatrava, the bridge is the most conspicuous component of the ongoing improve-

Photo by Jeremy Dickie

d a l l a s

The original art glass under the dome was replaced with a leaded glass piece, its design inspired by floor tiles.

ments to the Trinity River. Visually prominent
with an arch that rises 400 feet at its highest
point, the cable-stayed bridge represents the
soaring potential for the ambitious 20-milelong civic project that re-imagines the relationship between the city and the reclaimed river.
Located at the western edge of downtown, the
new bridge will connect Woodall Rodgers Freeway with neighborhoods across the Trinity.

In this view looking south taken in September, construction continued on the Santiago Calatrava-designed Margaret
Hunt Hill Bridge spanning 1,250 feet across the Trinity River channel northwest of downtown Dallas.

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With construction scheduled to wind up early
next year, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is set
to officially open in March.
The bridge, spanning 1,250 feet across the
river channel, is stunning. For anyone lacking
opportunities to experience Calatrava-designed
bridges and buildings in other parts of the
world, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge does not
disappoint. It’s a tour de force blending of art
and engineering. Despite its immense size the
bridge is slender and graceful, dramatic and
assertive, sparely elegant without being flashy.
The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge also signals
forward movement of the $2.2 billion Trinity
River Corridor Project, which ultimately is
intended to combine the recovery of the longmaligned Trinity River with recreational access
and cultural amenities. First approved by Dallas
voters in 1998, the effort has proceeded in a
fitful manner marked by controversies over the
project’s programming – including a proposed
toll road – and its overall cost. With the bridge’s
imminent opening, the Trinity River Corridor
Project may likely get a fresh look and one that
sets the tone for the quality and thoughtfulness
of all that follows.
M i c h a e l